Lancs Cup action for under-23s

Having played three games in the Professional Development League, winning the home game against Ipswich but losing at Crystal Palace and Bristol City, our under-23 team are having a break from league action this week and face Preston North End this afternoon in the first round of this season’s Lancashire Senior Cup.

Last season we went out at the first time of asking, beaten 4-0 at Liverpool who went on to win the competition, beating Wigan on penalties just last week in the final that was held over from last season.

Liverpool are not in the draw for the 2017/18 competition with us one of two Premier League teams to have entered, along with Everton, with the rest of the competition made up of teams from the Championship (2), League One (7), League Two (2) and non-league (2).

Two teams are already through to the second round; Fleetwood received a bye while Blackburn were this season’s first winners, beating Wigan yesterday who, as in last week’s held over final, lost on penalties in front of an Ewood Park crowd of 227.

Today’s game will be played at Preston’s training ground with a 2 p.m. kick off.